By Nick on Friday, December 05, 2014

Way back in 1970, when leisure suits first emerged and skirts fell to the ankle, Jack and Linda Jones launched a company with roots beyond retail. Their store, named Whole Earth Provision Co., was inspired bythe Whole Earth Catalog, a collection of short book descriptions and tools that offered a complete view of the world’s inner-workings. Thanks to the Jones family, shoppers could actually lay there hands on books and tools featured in the Whole Earth Catalog, an absolute dream come true for the catalog’s loyal fans.

Over the ensuing three years, the Jones’ continued to add more and more items to their shelves, ultimately outgrowing their retail location. Eventually, the couple moved into a larger store around the corner, making room for more clothing, hammocks, outdoor gear, canoes, kayaks and eventually, Dansko shoes.

Today, more than four decades removed from a small store in Austin, Whole Earth Provision Co. continues to excite customers, operating nine stores in five Texas cities: Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Southlake. Along the way, the store has supported nonprofits large and small, including the Nature Conservancy, Audubon Society and Hill Country Conservancy. From cleaning local rivers and parks to teaching outdoor classes for children, Whole Earth Provision Co. strives to serve others through local philanthropy.

In the spirit of the store’s passion for adventure, we decided to offer three compelling reasons to visit the Lone Star state (aside from the opportunity to shop at Whole Earth Provision Co., of course). Take a look below—and start planning your adventure.

You Can: Hike for Miles

With 13 National parks and dozens of caverns, canyons and rocks to explore, Texas is a dreamland for outdoor enthusiasts. Of course, you’ll have to make a shortlist—ours includes Enchanted Rock, an enormous pink dome that rises out of Central Texas, and the rivers of Big Bend National Park, which meander through stunning limestone canyons—though your list will give you countless reasons to return again. Hike, camp, backpack and study the wildlife, all on one outdoor adventure.

​You Can: Experience the History

“It’s like a whole other country,” Texans say. Well, we believe it: from the unforgettable Alamo to the Fort Worth Stockyards, a historical district filled with rodeos, a massive honky-tonk and a railroad tour, Texas’ historical sites never get old. And many of them, including the Stockyards’ famous cattle drive, make the state so appealingly unique.

​You Can: Dance Across Texas

If music festivals didn’t originate in Texas, the state simply found a way to turn the experience into a national pastime. From Wild, Wild West Fest to the Austin City Limits Music Festival, music aficionados uncover countless opportunities to “put on their dancing shoes” and move to the music. But even on quieter weekends, Texans keep movin’ and groovin’. From dance halls to vintage saloons, dancing plays an integral role in the state’s culture. Go ahead—join the fun!

Can’t make the trek to Texas? No problem! Visit WholeEarthProvision.com for a list of outdoor websites, green resources, captivating videos and more.